Keen Ice Cracks Top 10 in Latest NTRA Poll
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Keen Ice after taking the Suburban Stakes July 8 at Belmont Park
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll of all ages shows slight shuffling in the top 10 after the conclusion of the Stars & Stripes Festival of Racing this weekend at Belmont Park.
Arrogate (41 first-place votes; 410 points) remains the unanimous top choice. The leading earner in North American racing history is trained by Bob Baffert for owner Juddmonte Farm. The Dubai World Cup (G1) winner and Eclipse Award recipient is training toward a possible start in the TVG San Diego Handicap (G2) July 22 or the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1) Aug. 19 at Del Mar.
Gun Runner (359) has been ranked second since his win in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs for owners Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Three Chimneys Farm. Trained by Steve Asumussen, the Hall of Famer is considering the Aug. 5 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga as the son of Candy Ride 's next possible start.
Two-time Eclipse Award winner Songbird (306) remains in third after her first start of the year in the grade 1 Ogden Phipps "Win and You're In Breeders' Cup Distaff Division" June 10 at Belmont. Songbird, owned by Richard Porter's Fox Hill Farm, headlines the 80th renewal of the grade 1 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park July 15.
Two horses climbing the ladder after the Stars and Striped Racing Festival at Belmont is the multiple grade 1 winner Mind Your Biscuits (158), moving up from the ninth slot to sixth after his 3 1/2-length victory in the Belmont Sprint Championship (G2) for Chad Summers; and 5-year old Keen Ice (41), who broke into the top 10 after his three-length victory in the Suburban Stakes (G2) for trainer Todd Pletcher over race favorite Shaman Ghost.
Shaman Ghost drops down three notches to seventh after finishing second to Keen Ice.
The top 10 in descending order are: Arrogate ( 41 first place votes; 410 points); Gun Runner (359); Songbird (306 ); Mor Spirit (239); Stellar Wind (164); Mind Your Biscuits (158); Shaman Ghost (150 ); Lady Eli (100); Lady Aurelia (91); and Keen Ice (41).